Extraction, Characterization and Utilization of Fish Protein Concentrate

Progress in investigation for extraction of fish protein concentrate (FPC) by different solvents (acetone, isopropyl alcohol and hexane: ethanol azeotropic mixture as Canadian, British and Indian method) of pink perch (Nemipterus spp.) analyzed for their functional properties and further utilized in developing value added product. FPC extracted by isopropyl alcohol was superior with significantly (P<0.05) highest protein, lowest moisture and fat content. Significantly (P<0.05) superior viscosity (118.37 cP), Protein solubility (84.40%), Emulsification capacity (68.53%), Emulsification stability (60.92%), Foaming capacity (140.01%), Foaming stability (121.70%) and Water holding capacity (25.35 mL/g) for isopropyl alcohol compared with other solvents. Due to typical fishy odor fish meat replaced with FPC (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 %) in fish finger formulation with FPC incorporation at 10% levels were most acceptable. Strong linearity (R2) for changes biochemical values (R2>0.96) and microbiological values (R2=0.9705) were found. Sensory evaluation had a negative correlation (R2>0.814) during storage suggesting shelf life of 11 days. Suggesting utilization of low value fishes for extraction of high quality proteins and their application for development of novel foods.

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis L.) Extract vs. Synthetic Surfactants—Effect on Skin-Mimetic Models

Our skin is continuously exposed to different amphiphilic substances capable of interaction with its lipids and proteins. We describe the effect of a saponin-rich soapwort extract and of four commonly employed synthetic surfactants: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) on different human skin models. Two human skin cell lines were employed: normal keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human melanoma cells (A375). The liposomes consisting of a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol mixture in a molar ratio of 7:3, mimicking the cell membrane of keratinocytes and melanoma cells were employed as the second model. Using dynamic light scattering (DLS), the particle size distribution of liposomes was analyzed before and after contact with the tested (bio)surfactants. The results, supplemented by the protein solubilization tests (albumin denaturation test, zein test) and oil emulsification capacity (using olive oil and engine oil), showed that the soapwort extract affects the skin models to a clearly different extent than any of the tested synthetic surfactants. Its protein and lipid solubilizing potential are much smaller than for the three anionic surfactants (SLS, ALS, SLES). In terms of protein solubilization potential, the soapwort extract is comparable to CAPB, which, however, is much harsher to lipids.

Application of Green Surfactants in the Remediation of Soils Contaminated by Hydrocarbons

Among the innovative technologies utilized for the treatment of contaminated soils, the use of green surfactants appears to be a biocompatible, efficient, and attractive alternative, since the cleaning processes that normally use synthetic surfactants as additives cause other problems due to toxicity and the accumulation of by-products. Three green surfactants, i.e., two biobased (biobased 1 and biobased 2) surfactants produced by chemical synthesis and a microbial surfactant produced from the yeast Starmerella bombicola ATCC 22214, were used as soil remediation agents and compared to a synthetic surfactant (Tween 80). The three surfactants were tested for their ability to emulsify, disperse, and remove different hydrophobic contaminants. The biosurfactant, which was able to reduce the water surface tension to 32.30 mN/m at a critical micelle concentration of 0.65 g/L, was then used to prepare a commercial formulation that showed lower toxicity to the tested environmental bioindicators and lower dispersion capacity than the biobased surfactants. All the green surfactants showed great emulsification capacity, especially against motor oil and petroleum. Therefore, their potential to remove motor oil adsorbed on different types of soils (sandy, silty, and clay soil and beach sand) was investigated either in kinetic (flasks) or static (packed columns) experiments. The commercial biosurfactant formulation showed excellent effectiveness in removing motor oil, especially from contaminated sandy soil (80.0 ± 0.46%) and beach sand (65.0 ± 0.14%) under static conditions, while, in the kinetic experiments, the commercial biosurfactant and the biobased 2 surfactant were able to remove motor oil from all the contaminated soils tested more effectively than the biobased 1 surfactant. Finally, the S. bombicola commercial biosurfactant was evaluated as a soil bioremediation agent. In degradation experiments carried out on motor oil-contaminated soils enriched with sugarcane molasses, oil degradation yield in the sandy soil reached almost 90% after 60 days in the presence of the commercial biosurfactant, while it did not exceed 20% in the presence of only S. bombicola cells. These results promise to contribute to the development of green technologies for the treatment of hydrophobic pollutants with economic gains for the oil industries.

Determining the influence of protein-mineral additives on the properties of butter cookies emulsion

This paper reports the results of studying the influence of two types of protein-mineral additives on the properties of butter biscuit emulsion. The additives are considered as a source of digestible calcium compounds and as a functional and technological component that can improve the quality of buttery flour products. The parameters for pre-hydration of additives in the environment of cow's milk for better implementation of their functional and technological characteristics have been substantiated. It was established that the use of protein-mineral additives in the manufacture of emulsions in the amount of up to 7 % leads to an increase in the emulsification capacity of model systems by 1.5...1.65 times. Improved emulsion resistance has been proven, in particular after heat treatment. It was established that using 5...7 % of the additive produces a pronounced thermal stabilizing effect. After heat treatment at a temperature of 90...95 °C during 3×60 s, when using the protein-mineral additive, a volume of the released water and fat phase increases by 12...25 %. When applying the improved additive, a volume of the released phases increases by 3...10 %. A lower degree of coalescence of the fat phase as part of the emulsion when using the improved protein-mineral additive was microscopically confirmed. The fact of increasing the effective viscosity of emulsions when using up to 7 % of the improved protein-mineral additive was established. This is a positive fact in terms of stabilizing the emulsions and improving their stability as one of the important factors related to the quality of finished flour confectionery. It was established that the improved form of the additive, due to the content of chondroitin sulfates, provides for a better effect on the characteristics of emulsions, which should have a positive influence on the quality of flour-based buttery products.

Isolation and Characterization of Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria from Amapaense Amazon Soils

The objective of this research was to perform screening of biosurfactant-producing bacteria from Amapaense Amazon soils. Floodplain- and upland-forest soils of three municipalities of the Amapá state were isolated and identified. The isolates were cultured in nutrient broth with olive oil, and their extracts were evaluated according to drop collapse, oil dispersion, emulsification, and surface tension tests. From three hundred and eighteen isolates, the 43 bacteria were selected and identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing, indicating the presence of three different genera, Serratia, Paenibacillus, and Citrobacter. The extracellular biosurfactant production pointed out the 15 most efficient bacteria that presented high emulsification capacity (E24 > 48%) and stability (less than 10% of drop after 72 h) and great potential to reduce the surface tension (varying from 49.40 to 34.50 mN·m−1). Cluster analysis classified genetically related isolates in different groups, which can be connected to differences in the amount or the sort of biosurfactants. Isolates from Serratia genus presented better emulsification capacity and produced a more significant surface tension drop, indicating a promising potential for biotechnological applications.

Biosurfactants: Properties and Applications in Drug Delivery, Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology

Surfactants are amphiphilic compounds having hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties in their structure. They can be of synthetic or of microbial origin, obtained respectively from chemical synthesis or from microorganisms’ activity. A new generation of ecofriendly surfactant molecules or biobased surfactants is increasingly growing, attributed to their versatility of applications. Surfactants can be used as drug delivery systems for a range of molecules given their capacity to create micelles which can promote the encapsulation of bioactives of pharmaceutical interest; besides, these assemblies can also show antimicrobial properties. The advantages of biosurfactants include their high biodegradability profile, low risk of toxicity, production from renewable sources, functionality under extreme pH and temperature conditions, and long-term physicochemical stability. The application potential of these types of polymers is related to their properties enabling them to be processed by emulsification, separation, solubilization, surface (interfacial) tension, and adsorption for the production of a range of drug delivery systems. Biosurfactants have been employed as a drug delivery system to improve the bioavailability of a good number of drugs that exhibit low aqueous solubility. The great potential of these molecules is related to their auto assembly and emulsification capacity. Biosurfactants produced from bacteria are of particular interest due to their antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties with therapeutic and biomedical potential. In this review, we discuss recent advances and perspectives of biosurfactants with antimicrobial properties and how they can be used as structures to develop semisolid hydrogels for drug delivery, in environmental bioremediation, in biotechnology for the reduction of production costs and also their ecotoxicological impact as pesticide alternative.

Production, Physicochemical and Organoleptic Evaluation of Bread Made from Composite Wheat-Cassava Flour

Cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) varieties: TME 419 (419), TMS 98/0581(sweet), and UMUCASS 37 (yellow) were processed into flour. Comparative studies of their physicochemical and organoleptic properties were evaluated. Proximate composition was done using the standard method of Association of Official Analytical Chemists. The sensory analysis of the cassava flour varieties was evaluated by baking bread with its wheat blends using different ratios. Results obtained showed that the moisture, crude fiber, ash content, carbohydrate content and energy value of the three cassava flour varieties differ significantly (p≤0.05); while for crude protein, the values were not significantly different (p≥0.05). Also, the swelling power, boiling point, amylose, foam capacity, and emulsification capacity of each sample was significantly (p≤0.05) different with TME 419 cassava flour having the highest values in all but foam capacity. The combination levels for bread containing wheat and cassava varieties of 75% and 25%, respectively was found to be acceptable while, bread made from 100% TME 419 cassava flour was not acceptable due to its poor sensory attributes. It was found that the carbohydrate content of TMS 98/0581 was higher than the other cassava flour samples. Breads baked with 75% wheat flour and 25% cassava flour were accepted by the sensory panel in terms of appearance, taste and texture. These results showed that high quality cassava flour has potential to replace part of the wheat flour in the production of bread since there is a wide acceptance amongst the judges.

Technologies for the Production of Meat Products with a Low Sodium Chloride Content and Improved Quality Characteristics—A Review

In recent years, consumer concerns regarding high levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) intake have increased, given the associated risk of cardiovascular disease. This has led food industries to consider lowering the use of sodium in food products. However, it is well known that the addition of NaCl to meat products enhances their quality, including water-holding capacity, emulsification capacity, juiciness, and texture. Thus, it is difficult to completely remove salt from meat products; however, it is possible to reduce the salt content using salt substitutes, flavor enhancers, textural enhancers, or other processing technologies. Several recent studies have also suggested that processing technologies, including hot-boning, high pressure, radiation, and pulsed electric fields, can be used to manufacture meat products with reduced salt content. In conclusion, as the complete removal of NaCl from food products is not possible, combined technologies can be used to reduce the NaCl content of meat products, and the appropriate technology should be chosen and studied according to its effects on the quality of the specific meat product.